Folio (2001-03-09)

Honourary degrees announced

Six winners to receive degrees.

Volume 38 Number 13

Is it asking too much?

The controversy over fair distribution of drugs
in the Third World rages on.

UNIVERSITY OF

ALBERTA

The point is moot
Law students win prestigious moot court cup.

Marcu 9, 2001

By Ryan Smith

For the most part, Dr. James Orbinski
stood steel-rod straight and delivered a
cool, unflinching report of the atrocities
he’d seen working as a doctor in places
ravaged by war and poverty. But fora
brief moment in front of a full house at
Myer Horowitz Theatre, Orbinski needed
to pause and gather himself.

Speaking of genocide victims he had
seen in Rwanda in 1994, their hands and
feet cut off so they could not climb out of
mass graves they had been thrown into,
and parents pleading, even paying for
someone to shoot their children to end
their misery and pain, Orbinski’s voice
cracked with emotion. “I rarely talk about
this,” he confessed, asserting himself after
bowing his head and pawing his eyes as if
to wipe away his memory’s vision. “But
you have to know this. It’s our job as citi-
zens to know what genocide looks like.”

Orbinski, a Canadian, is the past
president of Médecins sans Frontiéres
(Doctors Without Borders). He accepted
the Nobel Peace Prize on the MSF’s behalf
in 1999 and was on campus March 6 to
deliver the annual University of Alberta
Visiting Lectureship in Human Rights. As
well as describing the horrors he had
seen, Orbinski spoke of the history of

http://www.ualberta.ca/folio

Orbinski slams ‘new humanitarianism’

Human rights lecturer recalls horrors of war

Dr. James Orbinski says people are not commodities
and aid should be given equally.

MSF, claiming that it is the MSF’s man-
date to help people universally and im-
partially, and to help them independently
of political organizations.

Geoff McMaster

“But we stand apart from the idea we
should be neutral and remain silent in the
face of crimes against humanity,”
Orbinski said; citing, among other exam-
ples, the Iraqi government’s use of chemi-
cal weapons against Kurdish people as an
example in which it would be shameful
for MSF workers to remain silent.

Then Orbinski launched into a stud-
ied censure of what has become to be
known as ‘new humanitarianism’—the
notion that humanitarian aid be delivered
only if those in need meet conditions out-
lined by those providing aid.

“People are not commodities,” he
said. “They are not a means to an end,
they are an end in themselves...true hu-
manitarianism is the most apolitical of
acts, but if taken seriously it has the most
profound political implications.”

He challenged states around the
world not to look away and stay silent in
the face of injustice. It is their duty to act;
to ignore the suffering of others “is mor-
ally repugnant,” he said.

Addressing the audience, but particu-
larly the students in attendance, he con-
cluded, “Embedded in this talk is the idea
that it’s your responsibility to stand up to
injustice...all people, by their very exist-

ence, have a right to be human beings.
This is not an economic issue, but an issue
of freedom,” he said.

“With your liberty, and through your
action or inaction, you will shape the
world around you. I implore you to live
with courage, and not fear and false
hopes, in order to make life bearable for
the ‘others’—our humanitarian brothers
and sisters.”

During a question and answer session
after the speech, Orbinski advised anyone
interested in volunteering for or donating
to a humanitarian organization to re-
search those organizations thoroughly.
“Find out who funds the organization,
what their mission is and everything else
about them before you decide whether or
not you want to go work for them,” he
said.

Following the presentation, U of A
President Rod Fraser thanked Orbinski
for—in the spirit of the U of A’s human
rights visiting lectureship—his “clear,
heart-rending, unequivocal call for
action.”

Orbinski also addressed three groups
of students—medical students, medical
residents and political science students—
in three separate events. a

Campus security and city police apprehend armed suspect

By Phoebe Dey

potentially dangerous situation was

averted when campus security and the
Edmonton Police Service (EPS) teamed up
and arrested an armed student on the
University of Alberta grounds March 7.

“Let me say first of all, that all stu-
dents, faculty and staff are safe and there
is no risk,” Doug Owram, vice-president
(academic) and provost said at a campus
news conference. “We'd like to think our
precautions prevented him from getting
into buildings and causing any harm.”

At around 11:30 a.m., city police told
university officials the suspect was on his
way to campus. Police first received a tip
from a taxi driver who noticed the sus-

pect was carrying a shotgun, said Dean
Parthenis, spokesperson for EPS. “He was
initially in a cab then car-jacked a vehicle
in the north end to get to the university.”

Campus officials immediately issued
an alert to security officers, locked several
buildings and formed a campus-wide
dragnet to look for the stolen vehicle.
Parking services noticed the vehicle on
the north side of campus. An arrest was
made within minutes, when the man re-
turned to the stolen vehicle.

Using two plain-clothes policemen to
approach the suspect was the best option,
police say. “Taking the accused by surprise
and tackling him was the best way to go and

obviously it turned out to be right,” said
Parthenis, who wasn’t sure exactly which
buildings were targeted. “The weapon was
loaded and he had more ammunition as well
as a hunting knife. He was ready to go. We
know he was disgruntled about something,
but we don’t know what. And we're cer-
tainly thankful it worked out for the better.”
Owram said the suspect is a former
student who was “excluded” from the
campus in November. “I can’t get into any
specific incidents but exclusion occurs
when there is a concern about violence.”
Campus security—which is made up
of 25 highly-trained officers—and several
EPS officers searched the grounds for the

suspect, using a picture from a database
of “certain photographs,” said Brian
McLeod, a retired RCMP inspector who is
director of Campus Security Services.

He said that collaboration between his
staff and EPS made the arrest go smoothly.
“Our officers wear soft body armor and
carry an extended baton,” said McLeod.
“They’re restricted in dealing with some-
body that’s armed, so with this kind of
incident only the Edmonton Police Service
would have responded...it was an excellent
partnership because it could have been a
very dangerous situation.”

The suspect faces several charges in-
cluding weapons offences and theft. =

Oak ag Og Sa Pe

Pee ck oe OR er

Peace activist, media authority and medical researcher among those to be awarded degrees

By Geoff McMaster

Nobel laureate, a futurist thinker and

an aboriginal businessman are among
six people who will receive honourary
degrees from the University of Alberta at
spring convocation in June.

The Nigerian peace activist and writer
Wole Soyinka, who won the Nobel Prize in
literature in 1986, has been widely recog-
nized as one of the most important and
influential African writers of the 20" cen-
tury. Some of his many works include The
Open Sore of a Continent, The Lion and the
Jewell, and The Man Died, a prison note-
book written while in solitary confinement
during the late 1960s for criticizing the
Nigerian government. He receives his
honourary doctorate in letters June 12.

U of A alumnus Don Tapscott is chair-
man of Digital 4Sight, a think-tank investi-
gating how the Internet and new media
are transforming business, government
and society. Also president of New Para-
digm Learning Corporation, he has been
described by the Washington Technology
Report as one of the most influential media
authorities since Marshall McLuhan. He is
consulted by the world’s largest corpora-
tions for his expertise, and in 1992 chaired
Canada’s first information highway advi-
sory council. He receives his honourary

folio

Volume 38 Number 13

OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS,

400 ATHABASCA HALL

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA,

EDMONTON, ALBERTA T6G 2E8

LEE ELLIOTT: Director,

Office of Public Affairs

RICHARD CAIRNEY: Editor

GEOFF MCMASTER: Assisstant Editor
CONTRIBUTORS:

Gilbert A. Bouchard, Richard Cairney,
Phoebe Dey, Geoff McMaster, Ryan Smith
GRAPHIC DESIGN:

Elise Almeida, Susan Hunter, Jennifer Windsor

Folio’s mandate is to serve as a credible news
source for the University community by
communicating accurate and timely information
about issues, programs, people and events and by
serving as a forum for discussion and debate.
Folio is published 21 times per year.

The editor reserves the right to limit, select, edit
and position submitted copy and advertisements.
Views expressed in Folio do not necessarily reflect
University policy. Folio contents may be printed
with acknowledgement.

Inquiries,

comments and letters should be directed to
Richard Cairney, editor, 492-0349
tichard.cairney@ualberta.ca

Display advertising

Deadline: 3 p.m. one week prior to publication
Katherine Irwin. 492-0444

Classified Ads

Deadline: 3 p.m. one week prior to publication
Cora Doucette, 492-2325

Talks

Deadline: 9 a.m. one week prior to publication.
Cora Doucette, 492-2325 Fax: 492-2997
cora.doucette@ualberta.ca

ISSN 0015-5764 Copyright 2001

University

The University of Alberta maintains a database of
all alumni. This database is used to send you news
about the U of A, including Folio and New Trail,
invitations to special events and requests for
support. On Sept. 1, 1999, post-secondary
institutions were required to comply with the
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy
legislation of the province of Alberta. In
accordance with this legislation, please respond
to one of the following options:

O Please keep my name, or 4
( Remove my name from the Folio list.

Signature
No response means the University of Alberta
assumes an individual wishes to remain on the
mailing list. ‘

Writer, peace activist and Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka will receive his Honourary Doctor of Laws from the

University of Alberta.

doctorate in laws June 4.

Herbert Belcourt of Edmonton is CEO of
Canative Housing Corporation, and is con-
sidered a pioneer in aboriginal business
developments, largely through mentoring
and teaching to youth. He is highly regarded
for his support and promotion of education
for aboriginal peoples and has made gener-
ous donations to the University of Alberta,

the Northern Alberta Institute of Technol-
ogy, Grant MacEwan Community College
and Athabasca University. He receives his
honourary doctorate in laws June 5.

One of Canada’s leading medical re-
searchers, Henry Friesen of Winnipeg
made his most important contribution to
science when he discovered the human
hormone prolactin, and with it a simple

Richard Siemens

test to identify patients with tumors that
secrete excessive amounts of the hormone.
Resulting from this discovery, thousands
of men and women with reproductive
disorders related to prolactin have been
successfully treated. He receives his
honourary science doctorate June 6.

Adeline Roche of Cork, Ireland founded
the Chernobyl] Children’s Project after receiv-
ing a desperate appeal for help from doctors
in Belarus trying to help patients whose lives
had been devastated by the Chornobyl nu-
clear disaster. The project has provided more
than IR£14 million in medical aid to hospitals
and orphanages in Belarus, Ukraine and
Western Russia. She receives her honourary
doctorate in laws June 7.

A well-respected community builder,
humanitarian and philanthropist, Erast
Huculak of Etobicoke, Ont. is the founder
and president of Medical Pharmacies Ltd.,
Canada’s largest supplier of pharmaceuti-
cals to long-term health care facilities. His
humanitarian goals include the purchase
and donation of a building for the first
Ukrainian embassy in Ottawa. After the
Chornoby] nuclear disaster, he founded
and directed the Children of Chernobyl
Canadian Fund. He receives his honourary
doctorate in laws June 11.

Consultants to quiz staff on risk management

University wants to improve long-term vision and be prepared for obstacles

By Richard Cairney

he University of Alberta is taking a new
approach planning for the future. And

this month, a handful of staff will be asked
about how the university operates in an
effort to see whether we’re taking stock of
risks involved in meeting university goals.

Up to 40 university staff will be inter-
viewed personally and approximately 400
will be randomly selected to fill out an
anonymous, on-line survey about how the
university draws and executes plans.

“This is risk assessment in the broad-
est possible sense. It is everything from the
risks we might see in the liability we may
encounter through our actions or lack of
actions, to having the resources to do the
things we want to,” said Dr. Art Quinney,
chair of the university’s risk assessment
steering committee.

“The U of A wishes to see itself as one
of the top universities in Canada, and to be
recognized as such internationally. So our

reputation is important to us. What we are
trying to do is understand and reduce un-
certainties in the broad range of activities
we undertake.”

Quinney uses as an example the pro-
vincial government bestowing degree-
granting powers on a private university,
and the U of A’s response.

“What are the risks to the U of Aina
changed environment? We have to under-
stand that. When a university sets up in
Calgary and Edmonton, what impacts will
we face? When you understand the risks,
you are able to develop a plan to deal with
those risks,” Quinney said.

The survey is being conducted with
consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers.
“Ideally, what will happen is that down
the road this assessment becomes part of
everyone’s thinking,” said Mariesa
Carbone, manager of global risk manage-
ment solutions for PwC.

Board passes budget, avoids deficit

Parking rates and student rents going up, research costs to be recovered

By Richard Cairney

he University of Alberta’s board of gov-

ernors has approved a tight budget that
includes an increase in revenues to almost
$775 million from $691 million. But the
board still had to take steps to avoid a
projected budget deficit of $754,000 that
will be offset in part by drawing from the
university's operating reserve fund. A
“modest increase” in parking rates, raising
$250,000 will also be applied to the deficit.

The budget illustrates an unusual posi-
tion the university faces, in dealing with the
costs associated with enormous increases in
research funding. Research funds increased
64.2 per cent during the second half of the
decade, to $213.9 million last year from
$130.3 million in 1995-96, according to the
budget document. Indirect costs of re-
search, such as the upkeep of libraries,
buildings and equipment, skyrocketed to
approximately $74 million last year. “Cur-
rently, this shortfall must be made up
through the university’s operating budget,”
the document says. “This simply dimin-
ishes the resources available overall.”
But measures to reduce those costs were

introduced by the board during its March 2
meeting. A new policy provides incentive
for researchers to include indirect costs
when negotiating research contracts. Previ-
ously, researchers received no return to
their own offices when recovering indirect
costs. But now, the distribution of those
monies has changed-principal investigators
will receive an impressive 20 per cent of
indirect costs they recover. That money can
be used for equipment, maintaining staff
between contracts, equipment repairs and
other research-related needs.

Board chair Eric Newell said the fed-
eral government is considering the estab-
lishment of a new fund to help universities
cover indirect research costs. University
President Rod Fraser said it’s a fund the U
of A will continue to lobby for. “We’re
working with the provincial government
and the federal government on that,” said
Fraser. “We're hoping to get them both to
contribute to those indirect costs.”

The budget also shows a growing
trend to more earmarked funding. The
level of operating funds per student, for

University of Alberta @ folio March 9, 2001

tED

‘e She ‘ eee Mae Or |

“The idea is that, if a dean wants to take
steps to increase enrolment, he looks down
the road at what obstacles might be in the
way and how he can best manage them,”
said Carbone, who will be conducting inter-
views with staff this month. “If faculties
and departments are working to meet cer-
tain objectives, and they align their process,
they are more likely to achieve their goals.
This just really formalizes the process.”

Quinney emphasized that risk assess-
ment isn’t being conducted on the belief
the university is making bad decisions
now. Rather, its intent is to see how poli-
cies and decision-making structure encour-
age long-term planning.

“We want people to take ownership of
managing risk, and that increases our con-
trol. One way to decrease risk is to in-
crease control. We’re asking everyone—our
staff and students-to take a role in helping
us manage that.” =

example, has dropped to significantly
lower levels than it was two decades ago.
The university plans to increase student
enrolment to 37,000 students by 2010, but
that notion was met with some skepticism.

“I don’t know if we’re going to have
enough bricks and mortar,” said board
member Dr. Fordyce Pier.

But board chair Eric Newell expressed
confidence. “Once we start getting into our
four-year strategic plan we'll be able to
take control of our own future,” he said.

The most visible implication of the
budget will be in the increased costs of
university parking passes. Costs will go up
$5 per month, with the exception of stalls
at the Jubilee Auditorium and others in
Garneau, which will jump just $2 per
month. Daily parking rates iricrease to $8
from $6. There will be no change in rates
for afternoon, evening, graveyard and
motorcycle permits.

The board also approved a five-per-
cent increase in student housing charges,
enabling the program to continue to oper-
ate on a break-even basis. a

focus

Confronting the drug dilemma

Will the Third World ever get the drugs it needs?

By Geoff McMaster

“| think in 50 more years, people will be asking
the same questions about the AIDS epidemic as
they did about the Holocaust. How was it
possible that so many people with resources
and intelligence, who knew so much about
AIDS, sat passively by and watched their
brothers and sisters die for lack of the same
medications that everyone knows can prevent
the deaths of people with AIDS?”

— Richard Stern,
Agua Buena Human Rights Association,
San José, Costa Rica

AS bad as the AIDS epidemic is, perhaps
nothing illustrates the absurd disparity
between Third World poverty and First
World privilege as graphically as the case
of sleeping sickness. The disease is devas-
tating parts of war-torn central Africa.
Spread by the tstse fly, it infects an esti-
mated 300,000 people per year, driving its
victims mad before killing them. Now the
cure—a drug called Eflornithine and
known for more than 10 years as the “res-
urrection drug” because it’s so effective—
will be made available for one reason: it
has been found to remove facial hair in
women. Now it finally has a profitable use
in developed nations.

Bristol-Myers Squibb recently agreed
to sell Doctors Without Borders a cheap,
injectable form of the drug, produced
primarily as an ingredient in the pharma-
ceutical company’s new facial cream.
Sleeping sickness victims
will no longer have to rely
on the only other existing
treatment, called
Melarsoprol, which kills

“It is imperative that intellectual

property rights be protected so

Squibb, Merck and Glaxo Wellcome—is
suing the government over a 1997 law
allowing the production of cheap generic
drugs for emergency purposes. And emer-
gencies aren’t hard to find. Of the 36 mil-
lion people worldwide infected with HIV,
25 million are in sub-Saharan Africa.

The law, enacted in 1997, has yet to be
applied because of the lawsuit. And the
outcome of this case, says Orbinski, will
likely be a landmark decision with global
implications not only for the distribution
of essential drugs, but for human rights as
well.

“A treatment exists, public money
largely developed these therapies, and yet
the majority of people with [AIDS/HIV]
don’t have access to the treatment—I think
that’s obscene,” says Orbinski. “That is a
profound political and market failure that
is indefensible.

“The responsibilities of governments
now around the world are to make sure
they are not challenged when pursuing the
public good, and if they are, to respond
vigorously and with firmness to make sure
public interest rests in the control of the
public.” Orbinski is calling on the Cana-
dian government to shout out its support
of South Africa loud and clear.

Marie-Helen Bonin, national coordina-
tor for Doctors Without Borders’ Access to
Essential Medicines Campaign, finds the
pharmaceutical position difficult to under-
stand, especially in countries where there
is virtually no market for expensive, pat-
ented drugs. “They try to make it sound
like it’s going to steal the market from
them, but the drugs don’t sell in Africa at
those prices,” she says.

Drug companies “are
just reacting from their
own point of view—short-
sighted business. It’s

five per cent of those
treated and corrodes the
veins of the rest.

Critics of the pharma-
ceutical industry, while
grateful for the resump-

that the revenues from these
products can be used to support

research into new and better

maybe not their business
to solve all the
problems...but when
other people try to sort
them out they’re not
happy either.”

tion of Eflornithine pro-
duction, say this case only

products for diseases, including

She points to a recent
breakthrough offer by a

serves to demonstrate the
God-like power multina-
tional drug companies
have over life and death.
They say these companies
hold the keys to drastically
alleviate some of the
world’s most serious ill-
nesses, including AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria.

When former U.N. ambassador
Stephen Lewis was at the University of
Alberta last month, he called the major
pharmaceutical conglomerates “callous,
obscene and abominable,” acting out of
“pure, naked self-interest” in not reducing
the price of anti-retroviral drugs used to
treat AIDS patients.

According to Dr. James Orbinski, past
president of Doctors without Borders, we
are witnessing a major “power struggle”
between the state’s right to protect the
public interest and the rights of pharma-
ceutical giants to protect their patents. It
should, he says, be up to governments, not
corporations, to decide when the people
they represent need help.

The power struggle came to a head in
South Africa this week. The country’s
pharmaceutical association—representing
nearly every major drug company in the
world including Bayer, Bristol-Myers

those that particularly affect the

developing world.”

— Murray J. Elston, president of
Canada’s Research-Based
Pharmaceutical Companies

generic drug company in
India, called Cipla, to sell
an AIDS cocktail to gov-
ernments at just $600 per
year per person (and to
Doctors Without Borders
at $350). That’s about 97
per cent lower than the
same combination avail-
able in the US for $10,400. If the pharmacy
giants win their case, South Africa, and
perhaps other countries in turn will be
barred from importing the cocktail, she
says.

The pharmaceutical industry claims
that the protection of intellectual property
rights is vital for the survival of research,
and to develop new treatments to fight the
world’s deadliest diseases. Allowing ge-
neric drugs to flow freely across borders
would undermine those patents. Further-
more, it says, blaming drug companies for
a distribution problem that has any
number of deep-seated causes—including
political instability, bureaucracy, poor
health infrastructure, corruption and other
education and social obstacles—is mis-
guided and unfair. The industry has taken
on a number of philanthropic initiatives in
recent years, such as lowering the cost of
AIDS drugs to about $1,000 per person per
year in some cases and distributing free

drugs for diseases such as river blindness
and malaria.

“By focusing exclusively on the protec-
tion of intellectual property and the re-
search-based pharmaceutical industry in
the process, we, as a society, miss the tar-
get,” writes Murray J. Elston, president of
Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical
Companies, in an editorial sent last week
to Canada’s daily newspapers. “It is im-
perative that intellectual property rights be
protected so that the revenues from these
products can be used to support research
into new and better products for diseases,
including those that particularly affect the
developing world.”

Former U of A pharmacy dean John
Bachynsky supports this view, but only to
a point. “Some of the companies have in-
tellectual property rights and push them
pretty hard, and I think sometimes they do
it in a pretty stupid way,” he says.

But he agrees progress depends on a
profit incentive and that research simply
costs a lot of money. “I don’t know if you
can have it both ways. You can’t say, ‘well,
we're going to restrict your profits and
you're going to do a lot more research and
produce a lot more products.’ ” He adds that
a company like Cipla, while appearing hu-
manitarian, “makes a hell of a lot more profit
than the originator, and that bothers me.”

Reducing drug prices isn’t necessarily
the answer, argues Bachynsky. Most peo-
ple in developing countries “can’t afford
the reduced rate either...My feeling is that
even if [pharmacy companies] pumped in
a whole bunch of cheap drugs and said,
‘now you package, distribute and make
use of them,’ the whole thing would col-
lapse.” Once you add those costs, he says,
“the cost per unit starts growing pretty
quickly.”

Orbinski admits there are serious barri-
ers to delivering anti-retroviral drugs
where they are needed most. But he rejects
the notion that high profits are necessary
to fuel research and development. He
points out that between 30 and 60 per cent
of the basic R and D for anti-retroviral
drugs was funded by public money in the
United States and Europe. “The claim that
high prices are justified in order to recoup
Rand D costs is just not true.”

He also compares the pharmaceutical
industry’s own cost estimate for research
and development—roughly $500 million
per drug—with an independent estimate
that puts the cost at somewhere between
$14 million and $250 million.

Pharmaceutical companies “refuse
to make their cost-estimates of how
they actually arrived at that figure
open to public scrutiny. They say
it’s proprietary information, but
they expect the public to simply
accept that number.” The court
case in Pretoria has now, in fact,
been postponed until April to
allow the pharmaceu-
tical companies to
justify the cost of
developing
drugs.

Orbinski
also refuses to
accept the indus-
try’s claim to hu-
manitarian moti-
vation. He says
drug companies
only grant conces-
sions under in-
tense public and

University of Alberta & folio March 9, 2001

political pressure, the kind of pressure Doc-
tors Without Borders and other non-gov-
ernment organizations have worked hard
to exert. And while there may be myriad
contributing factors to the access problem,
he says the solution starts with lower
prices.

Dr. Laura Shanner, a bioethicist with
the U of A’s John Dossetor Health Ethics
Centre, agrees drug companies have a long
way to go before expecting anyone to be-
lieve their profit margins are threatened,
or that they are genuinely committed to a
humanitarian campaign to increase access
to drugs. On the other hand, she says, it’s
far too easy for people in “over-privi-
leged” developed nations to point the fin-
ger without taking any responsibility
themselves.

“To say the pharmaceutical company
nas to take the hit, well, realistically their
profit margin has room to be reduced ina
humanitarian effort,” says Shanner. “But
so does my personal profit margin in my
RRSPs or other investments.

“If we're trying to target a specific
group, it’s an awfully big demand. If we
take it on, every one of us, as a purchaser
of technologies, as a stockholder in compa-
nies, as a citizen and taxpayer to the gov-
ernment, it’s up to us to say, ‘I’m not will-
ing to let these people suffer and die with-
out even noticing or caring.’ If we're seri-
ous about social justice it’s a radical reor-
dering of the entire world. And our lives
will change significantly. We are naturally
motivated not to accept those changes, but
we're going to have to accept the fact that
it’s time to share.” =

For more information on this subject, consider
these Web resources:

* Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical

Companies:
http://www.canadapharma.org/en/whatsnew/
index.html fe

* Doctors Without Borders: (
http://www.msf.org/ be

+ Campaign for Access to Essential
Medicines:
http://195.114.67.76/msf/accessmed/
accessmed.nsf/html/4DTSR2?
OpenDocument

Author encourages us to take responsibility for our own health

Gary McPherson’s own experience relates to every one of us

By Geoff McMaster

ary McPherson was 43 years old when

he finally struck out on his own. He’d
been living in hospitals since contracting
polio, at the age of nine. But now that he
was finally married, it was time to set up a
home with his wife.

Leaving the security of his institutional
environment, however, where all his needs
were cared for, was probably the biggest
challenge of McPherson’s life. As a quadri-
plegic, every detail of day-to-day living
seemed to be of Herculean proportions.

“Tt was a huge adjustment,” he says.
“The minute you move out, it all becomes
your responsibility, including your care
and how you pay for it. So that was psycho-
logically a pretty big hurdle to overcome,
and that’s probably why I delayed it.”

This life-transforming move forced
McPherson—a part-time lecturer in physi-
cal education at the University of Alberta
and executive director of the Canadian
Centre for Social Entrepreneurship—to
think deeply about health and health care.
It may be curious irony, but he claims “it
wasn’t until I got out that I realized I
didn’t learn anything about health when I
was in the hospital.”

He came to the conclusion that a lot of
things are wrong with the way we think
about health.

“When it comes to health, we are left to
fend for ourselves and for our families,” he
writes in his newly-released book, With
Every Breath I Take, published by Double M
Brokerage Ltd. “But we haven't been taught
how to do this. We have grown up ina

culture that has promoted a dependency on
professionals, drugs, antibiotics and junk
food...To me the message is clear, and the
message is, we must first take care of our-
selves by taking care of our health.”

As McPherson admits, there are prob-
ably few people in the country who have
precisely his perspective on health, be-
cause he actually grew up within the sys-
tem. That system may have its flaws, but
he has certainly never let them hold him
back. He doesn’t know why victims of
polio tend to be classic over-achievers, but
his own case is a shining example.

To list just few of his achievements,
McPherson created a partnership in a com-
puter software company with roommates
at the University Hospital, helped Dr. Bob
Steadward organize the first Canadian
wheelchair games, became a leader in
adapted physical activity and was selected
to participate in the 1991 Governor Gener-
al’s Canadian Study Conference. He has
received a whole slew of awards and been
inducted into both the Edmonton and Al-
berta Sports Halls of Fame.

In the words of Steadward, McPherson
has “pushed the University of Alberta and
many communities into recognizing and
understanding the needs and desires of per-
sons with disabilities... Although he lived in
an institutional environment for 34 years, his
ideals and visions relate to each one of us.”

McPherson felt his take on life and
health was unique enough to share. That’s
why he decided to finally put his reflec-
tions down on paper. His book is a re-

One person's
extraordinary
journey toa

heatthy life,

and how you

can share init &

counting of his own awakening to healthy
living with solid practical advice for any-
one, as he puts it, to “take or leave.” Using
his own story as it relates to a number of
health issues that affect everyone, he takes
on everything from diet to the importance
of hydration to weight management.

The dominant message, however, is
that the only way to solve the health crisis
in this country is to push for a prevention
model of health care rather than a curative
or crisis model. And the only way to do

University of Alberta leads the (United) way

Awards recognize leadership, increased contributions

By Ryan Smith

he University of Alberta has won a
handful of awards for its contributions

to the 2000 United Way campaign. The
university was recently recognized with
three awards, including the Leadership
Award, at the annual Alberta Capital Re-
gion United Way awards ceremony. Lorna
Hallam, the U of A’s loaned representative
from the United Way, was also honoured
at the ceremony, winning the George Letki
outstanding United Way worker award.

“The U of A runs such fantastic cam-
paigns, that whenever I talk to my col-
leagues at other regions about how they can
deal with education institutions in their
area, we use the U of A as a benchmark,”
said George Andrews, vice-president of
resource development with the Alberta
Capital Region United Way committee.

The university is not only seen as a

United Way leader in the community, “but
also as a leader across the country,” An-
drews added.

The Leadership Award, based on the
number of donors from each institution
who give $600 or more, went easily to the
U of A this year. “The U of A, by and
large, was the best at promoting this type
of giving,” Andrews said. “Twice as many
U of A employees [209] gave above $600
compared to its nearest competitors, which
include private companies.”

The university also won bronze medals
in the Award of Distinction and Chair-
man’s Award categories. Surpassing its
goal of $300,000, up from its goal of
$260,000 in 1999, the U of A campaign
donations rose to $366,230.26.

“T think a lot of the U of A’s success is
related to [Letki Award winner] Lorna

[Hallam],” Andrews said. “She’s a leader by
action. She goes above and beyond what’s
expected of a loaned rep, and she’s a great
ambassador for us and the university.”

Anita Moore, administrative assistant
in speech pathology and audio and one of
four co-chairs for the U of A’s 2000 United
Way campaign (along with Acting Vice-
President (External Affairs) Susan Green,
political science professor Allan Tupper
and education professor Gordon
McIntosh), shares that opinion.

“She’s an absolute dynamo,” Moore
said of Hallam. “A lot of our success has
been because she’s been seconded to us for
three years running, I think, and when she
gets here she already has all her contacts
set up and she hits the ground running.”

Moore said United Way affiliations with
U of A programs such as the Turkey Trot, the

Professor packages social ailments in single scale

Research paper urges action to be taken on underlying causes

By Phoebe Dey

hen a province has a high rate of one

social problem—homicide or divorce,
for example—it tends to also have high
rates of problems in other areas. And a new
study by a University of Alberta professor
says governments must address underlying
regional causes to learn more about the
connections between social ailments.

Dr. Gus Thompson, a public health
sciences professor, has designed a social
problem index to represent the general
level of eight social problems across
Canada. He combined murder, attempted
murder, assault, sexual assault, robbery,
divorce, suicide and alcoholism into the
index. He found that the eight problems are
so closely associated in each region that
cross-Canada variation is barely detectable.

Although the problems are highly cor-
related, provinces have separate services

to deal with each specific problem, says
Thompson, who argues that government
agencies should address the commonality
among the issues.

“These results suggest something in
our social infrastructure may be dysfunc-
tional. It’s difficult to say what this ‘some-
thing’ is, but it is safe to say that when
government policies and laws are being
developed, the consequences for the social
structure that is pertinent to the develop-
ment of our social lives, are rarely consid-
ered,” he said.

“Social problems are powerful compo-
nents of our social fabric, (they) may well
be a major determinant of health and are
of great public concern,” said Thompson.
“Social programs are also strongly related
to mental health, so this research has sev-
eral implications.”

The social problems also increase from
east to west, he said. “Westerly provinces
has the highest number of social problems,
while the Maritimes had the lowest,” said
Thompson. “The increase from east to
west has been around for several decades
and more or less correlates with the pat-
tern of settlement, but no one really knows
why the rates get higher as we go west.”

Despite a recent downward turn, the
rates of social problems are much higher
than those just a few decades ago, which
suggests action should be taken to stop the
problems from increasing, said Thompson.

The index can be used for needs as-
sessments, theoretical studies and as a
feedback mechanism to national, pro-
vincial and community leaders on the
social health of their particular jurisdic-
tions, he said.

University of Alberta @ folio March 9, 2001

that is for each one of us to take personal
responsibility for our health.

“Tt is my personal view that science
and curative research is at its best suspect
and, at its worst, faulty,” he writes in his
book. “Our obsession with looking at ill-
ness and disease as an enemy to be annihi-
lated has shaped a philosophy which says
we must rid ourselves of the enemy at all
costs...

“By putting almost unlimited re-
sources into technology, pharmaceuticals,
research and personnel in order to van-
quish the enemy, we have created an un-
tenable financial position for ourselves.”

His hope is most of us will come to
recognize that the health-care industry has
little interest in our well being, and that
enough of us will be driven to change it,
sooner rather than later. While he some-
times despairs of that recognition ever
occurring, he says he is “by nature more
positive than negative.” And he places
great hope in the young, who he says are
“bright—they’re going to make things
happen.”

But if there’s one thing McPherson
would like to get across, it’s a simple for-
mula summed up by the following word:
WISER—drink lots of water, inhale deeply
several times a day, slow down and chew
your food, exercise body and mind and get
enough rest.

“Tf this is all you learn and all you re-
member from reading this book, I can
guarantee that your life will be enhanced
through better health.” =

Bookstore’s Saturday Sampler event, and
pumpkin carving contests are examples of
ways the U of A campaign always seems to
meet its targeted goal. “We start campaigning
early, we have a broad approach and we try
be progressive and use technology like the
Web, to meet our goals,” Moore said, adding
that the people at the U of A also cannot be
overlooked when praise is parceled out.

“The people at the U of A are exceed-
ingly generous. [The United Way cam-
paign] demonstrates the U of A is commit-
ted to serving our community and making
it better. It’s something we should be very
proud of.”

The United Way helps fund more than
100 non-profit service groups and agen-
cies, from the Arthritis Society to the
Youth Emergency Shelter Society. Last
year’s campaign raised $12 million. =

Dr. Gus Thompson had developed a social problems
index that can be used to measure social health.

Thompson led the study, which is pub-
lished in the current edition of Canadian
Journal of Psychiatry. Thompson completed
the study with Yan Jim from Alberta
Health and Dr. Andrew Howard who was
at the U of A at the time of the study. =

inion |
guest column

ithe

Learning compassion, living solidarity

We all must nurture the roots of a peaceful world

By Swee-Hin Toh

ast year, 2000, was the United Nations’

International Year for a Culture of
Peace, and this year begins the Interna-
tional Decade for a Culture of Peace and
Nonviolence for the Children of the World.
These declarations signal a historic appeal
for all nations and peoples to transcend
violence and the destructive and painful
conflicts of the past centuries.

As this work of peacebuilding ex-
panded, the role of education is now con-
sidered indispensable. The work of educa-
tors at all levels and modes may not al-
ways be as visible as participating in peace
rallies and other forms of nonviolent ac-
tion. Nevertheless, to be effective and sus-
tainable, such actions must be accompa-
nied by education. We need education at
all levels and sectors of society to cultivate
peaceful values, attitudes and worldviews
within individuals, families, communities,
institutions and conflicting parties.

My journey in peace education has
yielded many inspiring lessons, both in
South and North contexts. I arrived at the
University of Alberta in the 1970s for my
graduate studies in Education. I remember
well those days when we patiently stood
outside Canadian stores, educating custom-
ers not to buy South African products in
solidarity with the anti-apartheid move-
ment. Most of us had never been to South
Africa, nonetheless, we were moved to join
solidarity actions with peoples oppressed by
the racist system of apartheid. So it was with

___joy_30 years later that I could visit a new

democratic post-apartheid South Africa.

But many of the most significant les-
sons in peace education for me have been
found in the Philippines where I have col-
laborated with Filipino colleagues espe-
cially in the southern island of Mindanao.
Our initial task was to develop a holistic
framework for peace education relevant to
understanding the complex root causes of
violence and conflicts in the Philippines.

In summary, we agreed that peace
education begins by educating ourselves
on the root causes of all forms of conflicts
and violence. Based on this understanding,
we are empowered to act for transforma-
tion, to change our realities from a culture
of violence to a culture of peace. In es-
sence, this framework identified six inter-
related themes of issues underpinning
violence and conflicts namely,

letters

Folio welcomes letters to the editor.
Send your thoughts and opinions via
e-mail to richard.cairney@ualberta.ca,
fax at 492-2997, or by mail to Folio,
Office of Public Affairs, 400 Athabasca
Hall, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E8.
Letters may be edited for grammar,
style, accuracy and length.

U of A news

every weekday...

on the Web...
www.ualberta.ca/ExpressNews/

militarization, structural or socio-economic
violence, human rights violations, lack of
cultural solidarity, environmental destruc-
tion, and loss of personal peace.

But education for peace is not just edu-
cating about these issues. How we educate
for peace is equally important. Teaching-
learning processes based on critical think-
ing, understanding alternative perspec-
tives, and a participatory learning environ-
ment that avoid banking of knowledge are
essential in peace education.

My Philippine journey in peace educa-
tion commenced at Notre Dame University
(NDU), a Catholic university enjoying the
trust of many Muslim students in a region
beset by long-standing armed conflicts
between the government and movements
seeking Moro secession or autonomy. My
NDU colleagues and I developed the first
graduate program in peace education in
the Philippines and established a pioneer-
ing Peace Education Centre. To be holistic,
this vision and mission of peace education
reached out to as many sectors as possible
in the wider Philippine society, including
teachers, civil servants, soldiers, religious
institutions and NGOs.

Our thoughts and actions in Philippine
peace education was guided by the power-
ful value of compassion, which is not a
mere feeling for the suffering of others.
Compassion also means a dedicated will-
ingness to build just relationships and
systems that uphold human rights for all.
Compassion calls on us to deeply respect
differences and diversity and care for our
mother earth and all its creation as well. In
the midst of a culture of violence and ma-
terialism, we certainly need to feel com-
passion for our own spirit and soul, so that
it can be nurtured towards growth,
tranquility, and enlightenment.

Another crucial value in peace educa-
tion is solidarity. We care deeply enough
for others in suffering that we are willing
to dedicate our energies and resources to
their struggles for peace, justice and
sustainability. Most importantly, we are
strongly guided by the principle and value
of active non-violence upheld by so many
spiritual leaders and teachers like Gandhi.
In this regard, it was most inspiring to
witness once again last month, the Filipino
people remove a President who had lost
his moral authority to govern, through a

democratic, nonviolent people power
movement.

My work in peace education in the
Philippines and other regions has also
convinced me that the journey is necessar-
ily slow, demanding much patience and
perseverance. Education is inevitably a
gradual process of sowing seeds not just in
the younger generation but also in today’s
adults whose decision-making and actions
are decisive in shaping the world that our
youth will inherit.

My commitment to peace education has
also been nurtured in North regions, where
a holistic framework of peace education is
equally relevant. Many industrialized coun-
tries engage in militarization, wars and the
arms trade. Despite affluence, there is still
poverty and homelessness. The North’s role
in the global economy and globalization is
linked to some root causes of world poverty
and inequities. Human rights of specific
groups like women, indigenous peoples,
ethnic minorities, gays/lesbians and the
poor remain to be fully upheld. Problems of
racism and discrimination persist in
multicultural societies. The ecological foot-
print of North societies remain
unsustainably heavy despite some progress
in environmental care. Personal peace has
not necessarily accompanied a culture of
consumerism and wealth-seeking.

Educational institutions have been con-
tributing to peace education in various ways,
including courses, research, and curriculum
development. Conflict resolution education,
exemplified by the ATA’s Safe and Caring
Schools program, helps children and youth
to resolve conflicts constructively and non-
violently. Environmental education, already
well-known, will need to pose questions
about lifestyle consumption and global
green justice. Multicultural education ought
to go beyond celebration of diversity and
should address difficult issues of racism and
human rights violations. The university
community needs to build on its commend-
able emergent initiatives in education for a
culture of peace and human rights and work
towards a systematic integration of
peacebuilding principles in all its programs
and institutional life. Through international
linkage projects organized, for example, by
CIED, scholars from South countries have
developed interest in and commitment to
peace and global education.

In both South and North societies,
my experiences have convinced me of
the vital role of civil society in awaken-
ing citizens and governments to address
local and/or global issues of violence,
injustices and ecological destruction. In
such education for a culture of peace,
there are constructive efforts to engage
the business sector on issues like corpo-
rate social responsibility, ethical invest-
ments, fair trade and sweat-shop labour.
Peace education for schools and univer-
sities therefore should draw on the re-
sources and commitment of many NGOs
and community groups active in build-
ing a culture of peace.

May I end these reflections by high-
lighting a very significant signpost in my
journey, namely the signpost of spiritual-
ity. From my earliest upbringing in the
multi-ethnic society of Malaysia to later
educational experiences, I have learned
much from the wisdom of diverse reli-
gions and spiritual beliefs, including in-
digenous spirituality. I have also come
across many peacebuilders whose human-
ist values are likewise sources of spiritual
inspiration. Furthermore, peace education
necessarily calls on every faith to engage
in self-criticism of contradictions between

&

belief and practice. onan 8

As we move into the International!
Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-
violence for the Children of the World,
my prayer is that the responsibilities and
challenges of peace education will be
infused through ever widening circles of
individuals, communities, nations,and
global networks. My appeal to;the educa-
tors and education systems of the world
is that we must not only help in the proc-
ess of transforming minds. We need to
also touch and move the hearts and spirit
of learners, including ourselves, to
weave a personal and global culture of
peace. We need to promote learning for
compassion, and uphold living in soli-
darity, so that we can nurture the roots
of peaceful persons and a peaceful
world. =

(This is an abbreviated version of a talk
given by Dr. Swee-Hin Toh, a University, of
Alberta Professor in Educational Policy Stud-
ies, in a Lecture and Reception organized by
the Faculty of Education in recognition of his
UNESCO Prize for Peace Education 2000.)

Cross Cancer expansion will offer unique service and treatment
New imaging centre will be the only one of its kind

By Ryan Smith

f all goes according to plan, by the end of

this year patients at the Cross Cancer
Institute will receive enhanced treatment
unavailable anywhere else in the world. A
$21-million addition, called the Centre for
Biological Imaging and Adaptive Radio-
therapy, will include the world’s first heli-
cal tomotherapy machine and Western
Canada’s first whole-body positron emis-
sion tomography (PET) scanner.

There are a handful of institutions
around the world with whole-body PET
scanners, and some with tomotherapy
capability, said Dr. Sandy McEwan, a CCI
researcher and professor of radiation on-
cology at the University of Alberta. “But
there is no other place in the world with
the two combined,” he added. “A lot of
people have been coming to us to see what
we are doing, though—some people from

Sunnybrooke [Regional Cancer Centre in
Toronto] have asked if they can plagiarize
our grant application.”

The centre will also include a cyclo-
tron, which is a particle accelerator used in
concert with the PET scanner to improve
diagnosis of tumours. “These innovations
combined will make a big difference in
patient management,” McEwan noted.
“They'll be complete unity, from diagnosis
to patient treatment to the delivery of
treatment—and at each stage there’ll be
real improvements.”

The new equipment will allow more
precise controls on radiation treatment
capabilities, and more accurate analysis of
the radiation’s effects.

’ McEwan said the centre will help the U
of A attract and maintain top researchers
and doctors. “There is a need for trained

1s Hiniversity of Alberto @) folio March 9, 2001

physicians specifically for this equipment,
and our facility will be unique in the world
for those who are specially trained.”

Funding for the 1,500-sq.-metre addi-
tion and equipment came jointly from the
Canada Foundation for Innovation, Al-
berta Health and Wellness, Alberta Infra-
structure, Alberta Cancer Foundation,
Alberta Science and Research Authority, a
private donor through the U of A, the Al-
berta Heritage Medical Foundation for
Medical Research, Alberta Innovation and
Sciences Research and Investment Pro-
gram and private industry.

U of A Associate Vice-President (Re-
search) Dr. Bill McBlain said: “Funding
partnerships like this are really important,
and they are key for making projects like
this a reality for the benefit of researchers
and the health of Albertans.” =

Passing ona love of science

Killam winner committed to teaching the beauty and importance of chemistry

By Gilbert A. Bouchard

Ds Martin Cowie, one of eight Univer-
sity of Alberta professors to be
awarded this year’s Killam Annual Profes-
sorship, is a firm believer in the impor-
tance of passion and intellectual flexibility
in research and teaching.

“T’m a strong believer in doing things
for enjoyment,” says the professor of
chemistry, who has been with the Univer-
sity of Alberta since 1976. “For example, of
the 2,200 or more students starting in in-
troductory chemistry at the U of A, most
will not become chemists. We owe it to
this majority to give them an appreciation
of the beauty and importance of the sub-
ject,” he said.

“The challenge for us as teachers is to
pass on the love of chemistry-interest
them in the subject...I tell my graduate
students that we’re teaching problem solv-
ing. Chemistry is all about looking for
solutions, and they’ll be able to use that
skill no matter what they do.”

Cowie is an internationally renowned
researcher specializing in the field of
chemical reactivity of transition-metal com-
plexes that contain two or more adjacent
metals. He’s also a dedicated instructor and
academic mentor, teaching a number of
courses from introductory chemistry to

graduate courses in his areas of specializa-
tion and supervising an enthusiastic group
of graduate students. But he admits to feel-
ing nervous before teaching his first class of
the term, even if it’s an introductory course.
Teaching provides the professor with a
good review of the basics.

Cowie’s own career path clearly fol-
lows his intellectual bliss. While he was
fascinated by inorganic chemistry during
his undergraduate years at McMaster Uni-
versity, his graduate studies saw Cowie
specialize in chemical crystallography. It
was only after taking a faculty position at
the U of A that he returned to the study of
synthetic inorganic chemistry, utilizing his
background in X-ray crystallography as a
structural tool.

“T recently came across a Centennial
Scholarship application I had completed
as an undergraduate in 1968, planning
out what I then thought I'd like to do as a
graduate student. Although I ended up
doing completely different work in
graduate studies, I realized that I had
inadvertently returned as a professor to
my original interests. It’s interesting to
see how I’d sown these seeds as an under-
graduate and that I did eventually come
full circle.”

Learning the ‘language’ of bacteria

Researcher investigates the ways bacteria share evolutionary information

By Gilbert A. Bouchard

t’s really not all that hard staying fresh in

her field of study, says Dr. Diane Taylor,
professor of Microbiology and Immunol-
ogy and one of eight University of Alberta
professors to be awarded this year’s
Killam Annual Professorship.

“It’s such a dynamic field,” said
Taylor, who has been with the U of A since
1981. “The microorganisms we study are
always continuing to change.” In fact,
Taylor’s entire career has centered on the
ways endlessly “clever” bacteria develop
resistance to antibiotics.

Since 1977 Taylor been exploring how
plasmids (self-replicating segments of
DNA independent of the bacteria’s own
chromosomes) work to make bugs drug-
resistant and pass along that information
to other bacteria. Most of her research fo-
cuses on plasmids in Campylobacter—a
diarrhea-causing family of bacteria—and
its resistance to the antibiotic Tetracycline.

These studies are of vast importance
given the emergence of the “super-bugs,”
bacteria with multiple-drug resistance.

“We don’t have a big problem with these
resistant bacteria in Alberta, which is good
on the one hand but makes research
harder,” she jokes. “It means we have to
travel to other countries where they have
more resistant bacteria.”

In recent years, Taylor has moved into
other areas of study, including
Heliocobacter pylori—the recently discov-
ered bacteria that causes stomach ulcers.
“At one point, Heliocobacter pylori was
thought to be related to Campylobacter
which is how I got involved in the stud-
ies.” Because treatment of H. pylori re-
quires a cocktail of multiple antibiotics,
resistance is a major concern, she adds.

Taylor convinced Australian researcher
Barry Marshall, who first connected H.
pylori to ulcers, to visit the U of A last year.
“Tt was a great motivator for students here
in Alberta,” she explains. “Barry’s from
Perth and it just shows that you can make
a difference in research even if you are in
an isolated centre.”

Taylor loves interaction with students,

Dr. Martin Cowie delights in the thrill of discovery.

While Cowie’s research has myriad
practical applications in everything from
polymers to pharmaceutical and agricultural
chemicals, his focus is on the pure science.

“My long-term goal is to understand
the functions of adjacent metal sites in bi-
metallic catalysts and in the short term, it’s
understanding the process at all,” he jokes.

With more than 120 scientific papers
under his belt, Cowie still loves the thrill
that follows the realization that you’ve
created a molecule that’s never existed
before. Yet as fascinated as Cowie is by
his chemistry research, he is equally ada-

seeing them as an intrinsic part of the
larger intellectual process that fuels suc-
cessful research. Her role as a mentor
should come as no surprise considering
Taylor—who quit high school at 16 to
work in a laboratory in 1964—worked up
the ranks from the bottom-most rung, rely-
ing on the support of “a lot of people I met
all the way along.”

Endlessly energetic, Taylor has been
attracted to research since her first lab job
because of the potential the endeavour
holds. “It’s purely up to you what you
do—you just have to go ahead and do it.
The sky really is the limit.”

A hiking and swimming enthusiast
who understands the connection between
fitness and efficiency in the laboratory,
Taylor also enjoys the travel associated
with her research. On her own time, she
unwinds with well-crafted mystery nov-
els—an interest she shares with many
other researchers. “I like the problem-solv-
ing aspect of them,” said Taylor.

The Killam Annual Professorships, es-

"Richard Caimey

mant about making sure that he keeps
himself intellectually and spiritually
fresh, with a diverse set of outside inter-
ests. Cowie values physical fitness, cy-
cling to his laboratory and regularly
working out. The father of three took
early retirement from old-timer’s hockey
“owing to frustrations with my poor skat-
ing ability,” but he is able to enjoy the
sport vicariously through his sons who
“have the skills that I lacked.”

Cowie also returns to his love of bird
watching and a long-time interest in pho-
tography whenever he gets the chance. “I
wanted to be an artist in high school, but
quickly realized that my talents were lim-
ited,” he said. “I still enjoy art though and
certainly plan on taking up art again when
I retire.”

Cowie notes that the work he under-
takes studying molecular structures does
involve some pretty sophisticated visuali-
zation and computer-based graphic skills.

The Killam Annual Professorships, es-
tablished in July 1991, are awards based on
scholarly activities such as teaching, re-
search, publications, creative activities, pre-
sented papers, supervision of graduate stu-
dents and courses taught, as well as service
to the community beyond the university. =

Dr. Dianne Taylor

tablished in July 1991, are awards based on
scholarly activities such as teaching, re-

search, publications, creative activities, pre-
sented papers, supervision of graduate stu-
dents and courses taught, as well as service
to the community beyond the university. =

Stylish law professor takes top faculty teaching honours

By Geoff McMaster

Won Renke describes his teaching
style as “a somewhat unsettling com-
bination of dreary lecturing, stand-up
comedy and performance art with an exam
at the end.”

Given the heavy content Renke imparts
to his students—criminal law, evidence and
intellectual property and jurisprudence—
he believes it’s important to lighten up the
mood every now and then, to keep them
engaged.

“The trouble is, my teaching is largely
lecture based,” he says. “I do try to convey
a lot of information and my courses tend
to be content heavy. It’s hard for people to
sit and listen to a steady stream of infor-
mation for more than 15 minutes—their
eyes just glaze, so what you try to do is
punctuate the transmission of information
with lighter moments.”

Obviously it’s an approach that works.
Students have responded with outstanding
course evaluations that resulted in Renke’s

selection by the
University of Alber-
ta’s law faculty as
the winner of the
2000 Honourable
Tevie H. Miller
Teaching Excellence
Award, presented
by the Honourable
EA Marshall, Court
of Queen’s Bench of
Alberta.

“The thing that comes out very
strongly about Wayne is he’s an extremely
well-organized, well-prepared professor,”
says Dean of Law Lewis Klar. “He is very
focused in class, and the students find the
lectures and materials superb. He deals in
provocative areas—in criminal law, for
example, which tends to be a controversial
area. He seems to engender a lot of discus-
sion, while being respectful to all points of
view.”

Professor Wayne Renke

Renke received his B.A., M.A. (philoso-
phy) and bachelor of law degrees all from
the University of Alberta (with a master’s
in law from York University), and was
called to the Alberta Bar in 1986. He joined
the law faculty here in 1993, after several
years of practice.

Since then Renke has served as presi-
dent of the U of A’s Association of Aca-
demic Staff (1998-1999), is a member of the
Academic Freedom and Tenure Commit-
tee of the Canadian Association of Univer-
sity Teachers and serves on the executive
of the Criminal Trial Lawyers Association
and the board of the Edmonton Bar Asso-
ciation. Last summer he was seconded to
University Hall as special advisor to the
vice-president (academic) and provost.

Renke has a wide range of research
interests which, Klar says, he’s able to
effectively convey in the classroom. He
has published papers on the disclosure
of records in sexual assault cases, the

University of Alberta 6 folio March 9, 2001

mandatory reporting of child abuse, judi-
cial independence, dangerous offenders
and the commercialization of university
research.

“He has a lot of practical experience (in
criminal law and evidence) which he’s able
to weave into his classes, and so the stu-
dents have a lot of confidence in him,”
says Klar.

Law student Patrick Duffy, who has
had Renke for criminal law and this year
for intellectual property law (“by design”),
said he appreciates Renke’s enthusiasm
and the care he takes to make sure stu-
dents understand difficult material.

“He’ll give a humorous hypothetical
example,” said Duffy, such as dramatizing
the police breaking down your door. “I
never find myself drifting or falling asleep
in his class even if it’s a really dry area.”
He said Renke’s sense of humour is “a
little different and a little quirky, and at
first it takes a bit of getting used to.” =

Law students bring Gale Cup
home—for the first time

By Phoebe Dey

roving practice is not moot, a team of

University of Alberta law students re-
cently conquered the courtroom, winning
first place in a prestigious national compe-
tition.

The team of Robert Palser, Mike Reid,
Jeremiah Kowalchuk and Sukhi Sidhu
placed first in the National Gale Cup
Moot, the first time in its 27-year history
that the U of A has won the event. In the
primary rounds, the U of A beat the Uni-
versity of Toronto and Queen’s University
and then prevailed over Dalhousie Uni-
versity, Osgoode Hall and University of
Windsor to win the Gale Cup.

Winning the cup was only a matter of
time. “Our teams generally have been
doing well, coming in second, third or
fourth, so ultimately we were going to win
one,” said Lewis Klar, dean of law. “It’s
been a team effort, so our students go to
competitions really prepared. It’s a combi-
nation of great students, good coaches and
an excellent law school.”

Kowalchuk and Palser paired up to
form the appellant team—and were cho-
sen to compete in the final round of the
simulation—and Reid and Sidhu made up
the U of A’s respondent team. Students in
the faculty competed earlier in the year in
an internal competition to decide who
would represent the university at moots
throughout the year.

Several months ago, participating uni-
versities received a copy of the case they
would be expected to argue, giving them
enough time to submit a written factum
and to practice their case. The competition

Jeremiah Kowalchuk, Sukhi Sidhu, Robert Palser, Mike
Reid and Tom Ross with the hardware.

is presided over by actual Supreme Court
judges, who award points based on each
team member’s performance and skill. The
team was coached by U of A law grad
Tom Ross, from the firm of McLennan
Ross. Before heading to Toronto the mem-
bers had five practice rounds with help
from faculty members, Alberta judges and
lawyers.

_ Even with all the preparation, facing
the Supreme Court judges at the Osgoode
Hall Law Society Court House in Toronto
was a bit intimidating, said Reid, a second-
year law student.

“I was nervous before I spoke, but
because our coach was so great at organiz-
ing the practice rounds, we were fairly
ready,” said Reid, who also received the
Dickson Medal for the first place oralist.

“I found it exciting to be at the court
house—you could sense the tradition in
the air and it was fun to argue in there.
And for all our practices, this was the one
that counted.” =

Chief Justice McLachlin meets with
law students at her alma mater

By Geoff McMaster

ne of the University of Alberta’s most

distinguished alumni returned to her
alma mater recently to share experiences
with students of the Faculty of Law.

Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice
Beverley McLachlin, in town to deliver a
talk at the annual banquet of the Alberta Law
Review, met with about 200 students in the
law centre, fielding questions on everything
from the political appointment of judges to
the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. And
she congratulated the students for devoting
their lives to a justice system “that has made
Canada the envy of the world.”

In a country where some have ex-
pressed concerns about the transparency
of the justice system, McLachlin said she
feels it is important for judges to be open
and forthcoming to media. “The Canadian
people are entitled to know who their
judges are and how they arrive at their
decisions,” she said.

However, she stopped short of ex-
pressing personal opinions on any specific
cases that have appeared before her court.
When asked about the Supreme Court’s
recent decision not to extradite criminals
to countries where they may face the
death penalty, and whether notorious
serial killer Charles Ng might qualify as
an “extraordinary” exception, McLachlin
said it’s always been her policy not to
comment on recent cases because it “might
be taken as spin. We have to rely on the
decision (to speak for itself).”

McLachlin also rejected the notion that
candidates for the Supreme Court should
appear before Senate hearings to avoid the
possibility of partisan appointments. She
said such hearings would reveal little about
alleged political or social “agendas” any-
way. If asked how they would vote ona
given case, most candidates would say, as
they have in the United States, that they
couldn’t comment before actually hearing

it. Otherwise
“they'd be sub-
ject to the
charge they’re
no longer im-
partial and
therefore can’t
be a judge,”
she said.

“T would
say to Canadi-
ans who are
thinking about
this, we should be very careful not to put
something in place that is
worse. ..(Supreme Court judges) don’t have
agendas. We hear only cases brought before
us...We can’t refuse to hear cases and even
when courts have spoken, there is still
room for the legislature to respond.”

Asked what she’d like her legacy to be,
McLachlin said she'd like to be seen as
having made decisions that meet “not only
the short-term but the long-term test” and
having promoted a climate that fosters
“consultation and debate.” But she said
her main challenge is to encourage deci-
sions that are “just, fair and wise.”

A native of Pincher Creek, Alberta,
McLachlin graduated from the U of A’s
law school in 1968 with a gold medal (she
also earned an M.A. in philosophy that
same year). She then practiced law in Ed-
monton, Fort St. John and Vancouver, B.C.
before teaching law for six years at the
University of British Columbia during the
late ‘70s. In 1981 she was appointed to the
County Court of Vancouver.

She has since served on B.C.’s Supreme
Court, its Court of Appeal and in 1988 was
named chief justice of the Supreme Court
of B.C. Her appointment to the Canadian
Supreme Court the following year was
capped last summer when she was that
court’s chief justice. =

Supreme Court of Canada Chief
Justice Beverley McLachlin

CHANDLER HAAVE VANDERSTEEN CARTER
Chartered Psychologists

1750 Canadian Western Bank Building 10303-Jasper Avenue

Phone 424-0123 Directly above the Bay LRT Station
www.chvc.com

— CHVC offers professional psychological services by
chartered psychologists with a wide range of experience.

—> We want to be your choice for all of your personal or work
related counselling needs: individual, couple/relationship
& family.

— CHVC is an approved service provider for U of A staff.

Oualified Professionals — Understanding People

The 13" McDonald Lecture in Constitutional Studies

“The Charter Revolution: Is It Undemocratic?”
by

PETER HOGG
Dean, Osgoode Hall Law School - York University

Thursday, March 22, 2001
7:00 p.m.

McLennan Ross Hall (Rm 231/237)
Faculty of Law

University of Alberta

Edmonton, Alberta

Reception to follow in Faculty Lounge, 4th Floor, Law Centre. For further
information, please call 492-5681 or e-mail curquhar@law.ualberta.ca.

Peter W. Hogg, O.C., L.S.M., Q.C., LL.B. (New Zealand), LL.M. (Harvard), Ph.D.
(Monash), FRSC, Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand and
Victoria, and of the Bar of Ontario. Canada's leading constitutional law scholar,
Professor Hogg is the author of Constitutional Law of Canada, Liability of the
Crown and Principles of Canadian Income Tax Law, as well as other monographs
and articles. He has acted as consultant to the federal government and provincial
governments and to various public bodies and private law firms. He has also
appeared as counsel in constitutional litigation before the Courts, including the
Supreme Court of Canada.

(Jdennts

AND COMPANY J

HOME ¢ COOKING

tableware
cookware
linens

cooking classes
bridal registry
specialty foods

Cooking demonstrations
Saturdays, 12 pm — 3pm

PH: 438-4117 e¢ Fx: 438-5226
10746 WuHyTE AVENUE

University of Alberta Ge folio March 9, 2001

Display advertisements:
Camera-ready artwork is required to size,
complete with halftones if necessary.

EDMONTON, ALBERTA
IN THE HEART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

Call 492-0444 for sizes, rates and other
particulars.

Pain Tete
through.
“European =NEH

“alternatives:

%. $79.00 single person per room/per night

-chirogymnastics
Executive Suites from $129 single

and interferential

- electro-therapy... eink
11145 - 87 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta :
Tel: 780.439.6060 Fax 780.433.4410 Maria Krieg © 4
Toll Free: 1.800.661.6562 ~ 11610-75. Avenue.
E-mail: info@campustower.com- . Edmonton, AB. .
www.campustower.com orp (780) 436-8059
#178186.

av ray
MACLAB

1.800.717.1277
www.maciabhotels.com

Check your benefit plan for coverage.

TO IeA EE CAR EF EO R
9 Polo N E

BOA CK &

A Breakthrough!
AG-IMMUNE
activates natural killer cells in your
immune system to destroy virally infected cells that cause serious illness.
3 STEPS TO BECOME HEALTHY AND STRONGER:

1. DIAL toll free 1-888-263-BODYWISE, Press #3, 4 and 5.

2. REVIEW www.immuneinfo.com and www.bodywise.com.
3. CALL Kaoru Ohta, independent Body Wise coasaleent at 433-3842.

Retirement!?

4;

Will you have enough? ’ 4

We help you clarify and achieve your financial
goals, by providing professional financial
& planning and advice without product sales.
Call us for initial consultation without cost or obligation.
RonGraham @&

429-6775 RonGra

0585-111 Street,Edmonton,AB. Certified Financial Plan:

L said ‘please
pass me another
mint.’

2 >aqcumblez skrankio,, i

Hmm? Did you
y, gongs!

CONFERENCE SERVICES.

More than just a place to meet. 492.4281

ire)h(@) on the

Get advance notice of Folio stories on the Web. ..

An e-mail message will be sent to you on the publication
date, before the paper edition is distributed.
Subscribe at: www.ualberta.ca/folio/

~ heat,.massage, >

Submit talks and events to Cora Doucette by 9 a.m. one
week prior to publication. Fax 492-2997 or e-mail at
cora.doucette@ualberta.ca .

AGRICULTURAL, FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE
AND DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE

March 28, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm

The Nutrition and Metabolism Research
Group presents Dr. Amy Halseth, Senior
Research Scientist, Cardiovascular and
Metabolic Disease, Pharmacia Corporation,
“Interaction of glucose delivery, transport
and phosphorylation in the control of skeletal
muscle glucose uptake.” Classroom D (2F 1.04)
Walter Mackenzie Centre.

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

March 9, 12:00 noon

JC Cahill, “Timing is of the essence: Intra-
annual variation in root and shoot competition
in an oil-field.” Room M-149, Biological Sciences
Building.

March 14, 12:00 noon

Hanne Ostergaard, “Activation of cytotoxic
T lymphocytes.” Room M-141, Biological Sciences
Building.

March 15, 4:00 (coffee available at 3:30)

May Berenbaum, “Parsnip webworms and wild
parsnips: web sites on the evolutionary highway.”
Room TBW1, Tory Breezeway.

March 16, 12:00 noon

Chris Johnson, “A Multi-scale Behavioural Ap-
proach to Understanding the Movements of Wood-
land Caribou.” Room M-149, Biological Sciences
Building.

March 16, 2:30 (refreshments available at 2:00)

May Berenbaum, “Gut reactions—how insects
eat plants.” Room TL 12, Tory Lecture Theatres.

March 16, 4:00 pm

Valerie Weaver, “The tissue micro-environment,
epigenetics and breast cancer: context counts.”
Room M-149, Biological Sciences Building.

March 21, 12:00 noon

Declan Ali, “Neuromuscular transmission in
Zebrafish: secret revelations.” Room M-141, Biologi-
cal Sciences Building.

March 22, 4:00 pm

Josh Jacobs, “Effects of forest removal and wild-
fire on beetle communities.” Room TBW 1, Tory
Breezeway.

March 22, 4:00 pm

John Vidmar, “Understanding high-affinity
nitrate transport in Arabidopsis thaliana:, molecular,
genetic and physiological approaches.” Room M-149,
Biological Sciences Building.

March 23, 12:00 noon

Elizabeth Crone, “Movement behaviour
and metapopulation dynamics in voles, butterflies
and models.” Room M-149, Biological Sciences
Building.

RU LEMIEUX LECTURE ON BIOTECHNOLOGY

April 5, 4:00 pm

James A Wells, Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, “Bind-
ing and Drug Discovery at Molecular Interfaces.”
Room 2-115 Education North.

CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF UKRAINIAN STUDIES

March 22, 3:30 pm

Dr. Yuriy Shapoval from the National Academy
of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, speaking on “Current
Historiography on Totalitarianism in Ukraine:
Achievements and Problems” (in Ukrainian). Heritage
Lounge, Athabasca Hall.

Ads are charged at $0.65 per word. Minimum charge:
$6.50. All advertisements must be paid for in full by
cash or cheque at the time of their submission. Book-
ings may be made by fax or mail provided payment is
received by mail prior to the deadline date. Pre-paid
accounts can be set up for frequent advertisers. Please
call 492-2325 for more information.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR RENT

CRESTWOOD — WESTEND, three bedroom hill-
side bungalow opening on ravine. $1,600/month.
Call Janet Fraser, Gordon W.R. King and Associates
R.E., 441-6441.

THE GARNEAU — upscale and unique two bed-
room condo with two ensuite bathrooms. In suite
laundry, gas fireplace, $1,400/month. Quiet location.
Janet Fraser, Gordon W.R. King and Associates R.E.,
441-6441.

CALL NOW! To buy, sell, lease a condominium.
$49,000 to $450,000. Please ask for Connie Kennedy,
condo specialist/consultant, since 1968. Re/Max,
482-6766, 488-4000.

WALK TO U OF A OR HOSPITALS. Charming, up-
graded three bedroom house, Belgravia. Hardwood
floors, gas fireplace, furnishings, immaculate, patio

-WNUntiversity of Albeppiy folio March 9, 2001

Building, Alumni Room. 2.

CENTRE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL STUDIES

March 22, 7:00 pm

Peter Hogg, Dean of Osgoode Hall Law School,
York University, “The Charter Revolution: Is It Undemo-
cratic?” McLennan Ross Hall (Room 231/237), Faculty
of Law. RSVP 492-5681 or curquhar@law.ualberta.ca

CENTRE FOR HEALTH PROMOTION STUDIES

March 15, 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm

Dr. Clyde Hertzman, Professor of Epidemiology,
Department of Health Care & Epidemiology, Univer-
sity of British Columbia, will present a talk entitled
“Early Child Development as a Determinant of
Health.” Room 2-115 Education North.

March 22, 12:00 to 1:00 pm

Research Symposia Series, Margaret MacCabe,
“Sexuality and Sexual Health after Spinal Cord Injury:
a phenomenological study of women’s experiences.”
Room 6-10 University Extension Centre.

CENTRE FOR RESEARCH ON LITERACY

March 21, 12:30 to 2:00 pm

Frank Jenkins, Oliver Lantz, “Portraying a View of
the Nature of Science in Textbook Discourse.” Room
651a Education South. As lunch will be catered,
please RSVP by Monday, March 19 to Paula Kelly, 492-
4250, extension 292, or paula.kelly@ualberta.ca

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTING SCIENCE

March 19, 3:30 pm

Christos Faloutsos, Carnegie Mellon University,
“Searching and Data Mining in Multimedia
Databases.” Room B2, Computing Science Centre.

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, EDMUND KEMPUS
BROADUS LECTURES

March 9, 3:30 pm

Patricia Clements, “The Liberal Arts in a World of
Difference.” Humanities Centre L-1.

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

March 9, 11:00am

Dr. Dawne McCance, “Crossing Literature and Phi-
losophy in Derrida’s Glas.” Room 4-29 Humanities Centre.

March 12, 2:00 pm

Yvonne Trainer doing a reading. Room 4-29 Hu-
manities Centre.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND STUDIES CENTRE
March 22, 4:30 pm
Dr. Cliff Wallis, “Protecting Wildlands through
the Power of the Marketplace.” Students’ Union

fi 29008192 1BDAlOM 10}
JOHN DOSSETOR HEALTH ETHICS CENTRE

March 16, 12:00 to 1:00 pm

Dr. Mary Lou Cranston, “Role of the Ethics
Committee: Is It Time to Re-Evaluate?” Room 207,
Heritage Medical Research Centre.

HISTORY AND CLASSICS

March 15, 3:30 pm

Brad Inwood, Professor of Classics, University of
Toronto, “Reason, Rationalization and Happiness in
Seneca.” (Co-sponsored with the Department of Phi-
losophy.” Room 2-58 Tory Building.

MEDICINE

March 14, noon

Dr. Jeff Reading, “Research and the Aboriginal
Health Agenda.” Classroom D, Walter Mackenzie Centre.

March 14, 4:00 pm

Dr. Jeff Reading, “Personnel Capacity Building in
Aboriginal Health.” Bernard Snell Hall.

deck, fruit trees. $1,200/month plus utilities, one year
lease, damage deposit. Non-smokers, no pets.
(780) 434-8225.

BLUE QUILL — exceptional four bedroom, fully
furnished home with office, sauna, main floor family
room with wood-burning fireplace, large deck. Direct
bus or bike route to campus. Close to excellent
schools. $1,200/month. July 1, 2001 — June 30, 2002.
Phone 437-1278 or e-mail mckin@powersurfr.com

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SALE

VICTORIA PROPERTIES — knowledgeable, trust-
worthy, realtor with Edmonton references. Will an-
swer all queries, send information, no cost/obliga-
tion. “Hassle-free” property management provided.
(250) 383-7100, Lois Dutton, Duttons & Co. Ltd.
#101 — 364 Moss Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V 4N1

GULF ISLANDS! To find your vacation or retire-
ment home in B.C.’s breathtakingly beautiful Gulf Is-
lands, visit us online at www.gulfislandproperties.com

OLD STRATHCONA — HALF DUPLEX, three bed-
room, den, hardwood floors main, walk to University,
downtown, shopping. $135,000. 432-7268.

McKERNAN BUNGALOW. Extremely well-
maintained. Numerous upgrades. Some hardwood.

March 15, 10:30 am to 3:30 pm

University of Alberta Forum on Aboriginal
Health Research. Dr. Malcolm King, “Introduction to
the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.” Dr. Jeff
Reading, “The Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’
Health.” Classroom F, Walter Mackenzie Centre.

MODERN LANGUAGES

March 15, 3:00 pm

Markus Reisenleitner, Canadian Centre for Aus-
trian and Central European Studies, “Once Upon a
Time: The Commodification of the Middle Ages in
German Historical Trivialromane around 1800.” Sen-
ate Chamber, 326 Arts Building.

March 21, 3:00 pm

Raleigh Whitinger, “Rolf Thiele’s Film Version of
Thomas Mann’s Homotext Tonio Kréger: A Reconsid-
eration.” 103 Arts Building.

DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

March 9, 3:30 p.m.

Paul Rusnock, “Bolzano on Intuitions.” Humani-
ties Centre 4-29.

March 12, 4:00 pm

Robert M. Harnish, University of Arizona, on “The
Major and Minor Moods of English.” Department of
Linguistics Colloquium. Room 4-70 Assiniboia Hall.

March 13, 3:30 pm

Robert M. Harnish, on “Grasping Modes of Pres-
entation: Frege and his Critics.” Department of Phi-
losophy Colloquium. Room 4-29 Humanities Centre.

March 14, 4:00 pm

Robert M. Harnish, on “The Nature and Origins
of the Computational Theory of Mind.” Open Lecture.
Humanities Centre Lecture Theatre 3.

March 15, 10:00 am to 12 noon

Robert M. Harnish, on “Mood and Modularity.”
Department of Psychology. CW410 Biological Sci-
ences Centre.

March 16, 3:30 p.m.

William lan Miller, University of Michigan Law
School. Humanities Centre 4-29.

FACULTY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND RECREATION
March 22, 3:30 pm
Dr. Mary McDonald, Miami University, “Queering
Whiteness: The Peculiar Case of the Women’s Na-
tional Basketball Association.” Room E431, Van Vliet
Centre.

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

March 9, 3:15 pm

Dr. Robert A. Wolkow from the Steacie Institute
for Molecular Sciences, National Research Council of
Canada, speaking on “A Step Toward Making and Wir-
ing-up Molecular-Scale Devices with a Self-Directed
Growth Process.” Room V-129 Physics Building.

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

March 15, 3:30 pm

David Kahane, “Democratic Deliberation Across
Cultures.” Room 10-4 Tory Building.

March 22, 3:30 pm

Fred Engelman, “The Austrian Parties and
Current Events in Austrian Politics.” Room 10-4 Tory
Building.

PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCES, EPIDEMIOLOGY SEMINAR
SERIES

March 15, 12:00 noon

Gian Jhangri, “Repeated Measures Analysis.”
Classroom F, 254.02 Walter Mackenzie Centre.

March 22, 12:00 noon

Andrew Travers, “Informed consent and re-

Double detached garage on pie lot, 2+2 bedrooms.
$159,900. Call to view, 483-7170, Karen Russell,
Prudential.

ROSSDALE - unique and bright open plan three
bedroom two storey. $283,900. Janet Fraser, Gordon
W.R. King and Associates R.E., 441-6441.

NORTH PARKALLEN - large semi-bungalow,
ideal location. Numerous upgrades. Newer basement
development. $164,900. Florence Thompson, Pru-
dential Spencer R.E., 483-7170.

ACCOMMODATIONS WANTED

EXPERIENCED HOUSESITTERS — responsible
warm Christian couple will provide live-in house-
sitting, 6-24 months. No additional cost to you.
Non-smokers, no pets. Available April 15. Excellent
references. Bob & Lenora, 436-3042.

VISITING SCHOLAR FROM SWEDEN with spouse
and two children require furnished accommodations
approximately May 24 — June 21, 492-5876 or
cefe@ualberta.ca

GOODS FOR SALE
CASH PAID for quality books. The Edmonton
Book Store, 433-1781.

search in emergency medicine.” Classroom A, 2F 1.01
Walter Mackenzie Centre.

RURAL ECONOMY

March 13, Noon

Robert Romain, “Assessing Technical Efficiency
of Quebec Dairy Farms.” Room 550, General Services
Building.

DEPARTMENT OF RENEWABLE RESOURCES

March 15, 12:30 to 1:50 pm

Dr. Guy S. Swinnerton, “Protected landscapes in
Canada: An examination of the use of the IUCN’s Pro-
tected Areas Management Category V.” Room 2-36
Earth Sciences Building.

ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE, 75™ ANNIVERSARY LECTURE
March 9, 7:30 pm
Dr. John Kaltner, Rhodes College, Memphis, on
“Ishmael Instructs Isaac: towards and understanding
of the Koran for Christians.” Room 2-115 Education
North.

SCHOOL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION STUDIES
March 16, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
The 15t Annual Professional Development Day.
Theme: “Advocacy: Thinking Beyond the Box.” Guest
speakers: Dr. Roma Harris, Michael Sambir and Christ
Hammond-Thrasher. Map Room, Lister Hall.

SCHOOL OF NATIVE STUDIES

March 9, 2:30 to 4:30 pm

Crystal Janvier, “The Role of a Holistic Healing Cen-
tre for Youth in Crisis.” Room 2-14 Humanities Centre.

Sally Warr, “Indigenous World Views and Re-
source Development Conflicts.” Room 2-14 Humani-
ties Centre.

UNIVERSITY TEACHING SERVICES

March 12, 3:00 to 4:30 pm

Carolin Kreber, Educational Policy Studies, on
“Fostering Students’ Self-direction in Learning.”
Room 281 Central Academic Building.

March 13, 4:15 to 6:15 pm

Greg Cole, Academic Technologies for Learning,
on “Managing Student Marks with Excel II (Interme-
diate).” Room Technology Training Centre.

March 14, 4:15 to 6:15 pm

Brad Hestbak, External Affairs, on “PowerPoint
for Beginners.” Room Technology Training Centre,
Cameron Library.

March 15, 3:00 to 4:30 pm

Patricia Sears, Specialized Support and Disability
Services, on “Inclusion: The Ripple Effect.” Room 281
Central Academic Building.

March 16, 12:05 to 1:00 pm

Rod Wood, Law, on “Challenging the Way we do
Things.” Room 219 Central Academic Building.

March 19, 3:30 to 4:30 pm

Karla Verschoor, Students’ Union, on “Customize
and Consolidate Your Handouts.” Room 281 Central
Academic Building.

March 20, 3:00 to 4:30 pm

Mike Enzle, Research and External Affairs, on
“Successful Human Ethics Review Proposals.” Room
281 Central Academic Building.

March 21, 3:30 to 4:30 pm

Don Carmichael, AAS:UA and Chris Samuel, Stu-
dents’ Union, on “Don’t be Roadkill on the Evaluation
Highway.” Room 281 Central Academic Building.

March 22, 3:00 to 4:30 pm

Carolin Kreber, Educational Policy Studies, on
“Learning Style Differences.” Room 281 Central Aca-
demic Building.

SERVICES

TECH VERBATIM EDITING - APA, Chicago;
medical terminology; on campus. Donna, 465-3753.

DAVID RICHARDS CARPENTRY. Certified jour-
neyman, NAIT. Complete interior/exterior, residen-
tial, commercial renovations including plumbing/
electrical. No job too big/small. References avail-
able. 436-6363.

COUNSELLING: Individuals/couples/families.
Stress management, transitions, personal develop-
ment. Workshop/Retreats. Dr Dustin T. Shannon-
Brady, PhD, The Grail Institute, Counselling, health
and sport psychology. www.thegrailinstitute.com,
1-780-922-5181.

DENIS BEAULIEU RENOVATIONS INC. —- Windows,
doors, and more. WCB. BBB. Free estimates. Phone
(780) 919-5499.

ALEXANDER EDITING. Eight years academic
editing experience. Articles, theses, applications.
Near campus. Email: nathan@interbaun.com; Nathan,
433-0741.

CEDARBRAE CONTRACTING. Quality home
renovations and additions since 1987. Insured, BBB,
references. 489-2919.

Colette M. Lehodey

Registered Acupuncturist and Physical Therapist
Cert. M.Ac., CAFCI, R.Ac., B.Sc.P.T., MCPA

The Five Elements Health Centre in McKernan
11208 - 76 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6G OKI
Tel: (780) 435-9933

Fax: (780) 430-9229

BY APPOINTMENT

* Medical Acupuncture ¢ Traditional Chinese Medicine
¢ Qi Gong ¢ Physical Therapy

For Your Complementary Health Care Needs

Dr. Catherine Fletcher, Family Dentistry
980, 8215-112 St. Edmonton, AB
Ph: 439-2266

Our dental practice is unique in its approach.
We believe in choices.
Your Choices!

We are dedicated to listening and providing choices for restoring and
maintaining your dental health in a friendly, comfortable, caring atmosphere.

Our dental services include:
Teeth Whitening Dentures Dental hygiene
Major restorative and cosmetic dentistry - fillings, crowns, bridges,
and veneers.
Dentistry for children
Visit our website at www fletcherdentist.ab.ca

Distinguished Visiting Guest Speaker

DR. CLYDE HERTZMAN

Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Health Care & Epidemiology
University of British Columbia

Early Child Development as a Determinant of Health

Don't miss this dynamic presentation by internationally renowned researcher, Dr. Clyde
Hertzman. In his capacity as Director of the Program in Population Health, Canadian Institute
for Advanced Research, Dr. Hertzman played a central role in developing the conceptual
framework for the determinants of health. He also serves as Co-Chair of the National Healthy
Child Development Strategy for the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Advisory Committee on
Population Health. With outstanding research contributions in these areas, Dr. Hertzman is
eminently qualified to speak about the special role of early childhood development as a
determinant of health.

d,-“” Centre for
; aay Health Promotion
Bogs

STUDIES

Thursday, March 15th
§:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Ed N2-115

The Centre for Executive and Management
Development Proudly Presents:

Ken Blanchard

Minute Manager",
e Teams”

Live Via Satellite at the Telus Centre for Professional Development

Centre for Executive and
~~ Management Development
University of Alberta, Schoo! of Business

Tickets are limited so buy your tickets today!

For more info please visit
www.bus.ualberta.ca/cemd
or call (780) 421-1240.

For group rates call (780)421-1240.

University of Alberta 9} folio March 9, 2001

ee ay

Mac Mierzejewski, MScPT

Physical therapy and medical acupuncture

A service to suit the University community — located on campus
just minutes away from your work or study site. Client-centred,
individualized attention is guaranteed.

Occupational Performance Analysis Unit (OPAU)
1-80 Corbett Hall, University of Alberta
corner of 114th Street and 82nd Avenue (meter parking available)

To make an appointment please call 492-9595.

Day, weekend or weeklong workshops for both established and new writers!
Poetry - Marilyn Dumont ¢ Short Fiction - Candas Jane Dorsey # Writing /Speaking
Cyberfeminism - Carolyn Guertin @ Prose Poetry - Daphne Marlatt Life-writing -
Eunice Scarfe Creative Non-fiction - Judy Schultz... and more!

ge ae P
Call 492-3093 or visit our website at a | Faculty of Extension

« University of Alberta
www.extension.ualberta.ca/womenswords "

LUXURY APARTMENT HOTEL

Approved University Hotel
through the Hotel Authorization Program

$65.00 $85.00

1 bedroom 2 bedroom
per night per night

FREE - LRT pass to the U of A

FREE - Deluxe continental breakfast
FREE - Heated underground parking
FREE - Local calls

FREE - Pass to the Kinsmen Sports Centre
FREE - 24 hour coffee service in lobby

1, 2 & 3 bedroom suites equipped with washers/dryers,
dishwashers, microwaves, coffee makers and private balconies ~

*LRT passes only available with HAP Reservations *Subject to availability

(780) 488-1626 ¢ 9715-110 St.
Spend A Night Not A Fortune

Considering

Early Retirement?

In today’s ever changing business environment, you may find
yourself in the position of being asked to take early retirement

as a result of a re-organization or downsizing.

ScotiaMcLeod’s Early Retirement Options
Handbook is the most comprehensive guide you'll
need to help you through a decision that could
affect the rest of your life.

Call or email for your
free copy today.

Sylvia Haak
Associate Director
(780) 497-3227 or (800) 661-7137
sylvia_haak@scotia-mcleod.com

10104 - 103rd Avenue
Canada Trust Tower
Edmonton, AB T5J 0H8

§& ScotiaMcLeod”
Building Relationships for Life

™ Trademark used under authorization and control of The Bank of Nova Scotia.
ScotiaMcLeod is a division of Scotia Capital Inc., Member CIPE

iteite $0.65 per word

Deadline: one week prior to
publication date

Find whatever you want to buy

or sell in the Folio classifieds.

Call 492-2325
for more
information

“work

IN MEMORIAM

JONES, DR.RICHARDNORMANOC, FRSC

n Saturday, February 17, 2001, Norman

Jones passed away peacefully a month
shy of his 88th birthday.

He is survived by his loving wife of 61
years, Magda (Kemeny), two sons, Kem
(Donna) and David (Chris), five grand-
children and two great-grandchildren.

Born and educated in Manchester,
England ( B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. and Doctor
of Science), Norman spent most of his life
dedicated to chemistry, particularly
spectroscopy and the importance of com-
puters in handling data, at the National
Research Council in Ottawa. Internation-
ally renowned for his research, Norman
made a number of important discoveries,
produced more than 300 research publica-
tions and represented Canada on many
international organizations.

events

ACADEMIC WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION

Tuesday, April 24, 2001, 7:00 p.m.

Annual General Meeting of the Academic Wom-
en’s Association/Woman of the Year Award Dinner.
Papaschase Room, Faculty Club. Please contact
Patricia Valentine, patricia.valentine@ualberta.ca, to
join AWA and attend the AWA banquet.

STRICKLAND DINNER

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Thursday, March 15, 5:30 p.m. (no host bar),
6:30 p.m. (dinner)

To make reservations contact: Andy Keddie, ex-
tension 0455 or 451-0939 or e-mail: andy.keddie@
ualberta.ca or Felix Sperling, extension 3991 or
email: felix.sperling@ualberta.ca. Reservations
should be made as early as possible and no later
than Monday, March 12! Cost is $30 for meals.

A receipt will be provided on payment. Faculty Club,
Papaschase Room (upstairs).

EXHIBITION

MCMULLEN GALLERY, U OF A HOSPITAL

February 3 to March 31, 2001

Painters Dick Der, Robert von Eschen, Bernie
Hippel, Julian Brezdan, and Ruby Mah create a visual
feast for the eyes and soul in “Miscellaneous Connec-
tions.” Gallery hours: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 8
p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 8 p.m.. 8440 - 112
Street. For more information, contact Michelle
Casavant or Susan Pointe. Phone 407-7152 or email:
spointe@uah.ab.ca

EXHIBITION

FINE ARTS BUILDING (FAB) GALLERY

February 13 to March 11, 2001

The Office of Native Student Services and the
Department of Art and Design are honoured to
present “Millenium Tribute to the Dene Uranium Ore
Carriers of Denendeh: A Multi-Media Exhibit.” Gallery
hours: Tuesday — Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays
from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.. Closed Monday, Saturday, and
Statutory Holidays. 112 Street and 89 Avenue. Phone
492-2081.

EXHIBIT

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN ECOLOGY & THE CLOTHING
AND TEXTILE COLLECTION

February 1 to March 31, 2001

Exhibit “Who Wears the Pants? Gender Roles
and Clothing Communication.” The exhibit explores
how clothing, throughout the twentieth century,
reflects changing gender roles in Canadian society.
Exhibit hours: Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m..
Human Ecology Building. For more information,
please contact: Shawna Lemiski, (780) 492-2528.

SATELLITE EVENT

CENTRE FOR EXECUTIVE AND MANAGEMENT
DEVELOPMENT

March 28, 8:50 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Dr. Ken Blanchard: “Creating High Five Teams.”
Dr. Ken Blanchard’s latest strategies based on his
new book “High Five!” can help you create team
power, a sense of purpose, shared values, and
goals. Visit www.bus.ualberta.ca/cemd or call
(780) 492-3860 for more information. Telus Centre
Auditorium.

University,of Alberta ©. folio March 9, 2001

After his official retirement from NRC in
1978 he and Magda traveled extensively as
he continued his research and teaching,
including three years at the Tokyo Institute
of Technology. In 1992 they moved to Ed-
monton where he continued his academic
work as a Guest Scientist with the Chemis-
try Department at the University of Alberta.

Recognized for his contribution
through many professional awards and
two honorary degrees, he was appointed
an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1999.

A memorial celebrating his life will be
held at Garneau United Place, 11148 - 84
Ave., Edmonton, on Saturday, March 17,
2001 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers dona-
tions may be made to a memorial fund
established in his name at the Department
of Chemistry, University of Alberta [con-
tact: Claudia Wood (780) 492-6662 or e-mail
claudia.wood@ualberta.ca]. =

STANDARD FIRST AID/HEARTSAVER COURSES

The Office of Environmental Health & Safety has
arranged for Standard First Aid/Heartsaver courses to
be held on campus once again this year. The training
is comprised of two full-day sessions (8:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m.) with morning, lunch and afternoon breaks. The
cost is $80.00 per person. The first course will be held
in early April and the last at the end of October. Regis-
tration is limited due to classroom size. For further
information and registration forms please call Cindy
Ferris at 492-1810 or e-mail cindy.ferris@ualberta.ca

SYMPOSIUM

LACANAIAN PSYCHOANALYSIS: RESEARCH IMPLICA-
TIONS FOR CULTURE AND SOCIETY

Saturday, March 10, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Centre for Research for Teacher Education and
Development presents symposium. Room 358/366
Education South. Undergraduate and graduate stu-
dents free. Colleagues $10.00. Guest speakers include
Mark Bracher, Doug Aoki, Paul Nonnekes, Dianne
Chisholm, Henry Klumpenhouwer, and Derek Briton.

FACULTY OF NURSING

MARGARET SCOTT RESEARCH DAY

Tuesday, March 13, 9:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Place: Bernard Snell Hall. For more information
please contact Winnie or Elaine, 492-5617.

OBSERVATORY

Campus Astronomical Observatory is open to the
campus community and the general public every
Thursday evening (except exam and holiday periods)
beginning at 8 p.m. Entrance to the Physics Building
is via the northeast door or via the V-wing. For infor-
mation call 492-5286.

MUSIC

DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

March 10, 6:30 p.m.

The Annual Dinner Concert and Auction of the
University of Alberta Madrigal Singers, Leonard
Ratzlaff, conductor. Empire Ballroom, Hotel
Macdonald. Admission: $60/person. For tickets and
further information, please call 492-5306.

March 11, 8:00 p.m.

The University of Alberta Academy Strings,
Tanya Prochazka, conductor.

March 12, 12:10 p.m.

Noon-Hour Organ Recital. Free admission.

March 15, 7:30 p.m.

World Music Concert featuring Wajjo African
Drummers & Kekeli African Dancers.

March 21, 8:00 p.m.

The University of Alberta Symphonic Wind En-
semble, Fordyce Pier, director.

March 23, 8:00 p.m.

Music at Convocation Hall featuring visiting artist
Donna Brown, soprano with Stéphane Lemelin, piano.

March 24, 7:00 p.m.

Northern Alberta Honor Band, Fordyce Pier,
director. Free admission.

Unless otherwise indicated: Admission $5/student/
senior, $10/adult. Convocation Hall, Arts Building. To
confirm concert information, please call 492-0601.

PHILOSOPHER'S CAFE

Saturday, March 10, 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

Topic: Is political correctness stifling our society?
Guest scholar: Pablo Martin de Holan, Professor in the
Faculty of Business and Faculté Saint-Jean. Modera-
tor: Bernard Linsky, Chair of Philosophy. Fioré Cantina
Italiana, 8715 - 109 Street.

Fa a oS ge

Paul Lorieaus University Optical

The records arising from this competition will be managed in accordance with provisions of the Alberta Freedom of ; “We value your eyes, a na well Pp rove it

Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPP). oa 5 h b : ee /

The University of Alberta hires on the basis of merit. We are committed to the principle of equity of employment. - by offeri ng tie very OES tin op cal care

We welcome diversity and encourage applications from all qualified women and men, including persons with ve at everyday low prices. ”

disabilities, members of visible minorities, and Aboriginal persons. © .

FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND payton processes spt! ~ a — of the unl- Aa Conveniently located in College Plaza
versity community. The position also plays an inte-

DENTISTRY gral part in providing key information used in the 43 3-5500 8217 - 112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2C8
university's decision-making processes. The Comp-

PROJECT LIAISON OFFICER troller will be responsible for the effective and effi-

The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry is seeking __ cient use of financial resources. ;

a Project Liaison Officer to assist the Faculty and the The incumbent's department processes payroll

University in the planning, design and construction for regular and temporary support staff, academics, ;

of the Health Research and Innovation Facility. sessionals and student employees, generating ap-

The Project Liaison Officer will work with faculty proximately 12,000 payments monthly. The Payroll € e
members and committees to determine the require- | Comptroller insures that all federal and provincial “¢ 77 j A 7 TV Z 77
ments for space usage of numerous exciting re- requirements and commitments are met as well as i at af : he e
search initiatives and work closely with the Capital providing correct information to our benefit carriers.
and Strategic Planning Services and the Project Man- .
agement Office of the University of Alberta. 2 paren aon ‘aq aedianat — LO Cf —_

Tha Candidiae’chould have: ae in Business; accounting designation
¢ — Ability to interpret architectural and engineer- : seater aa aiianbexparencein payiel

ing drawings to identify if the user needs have and benchits in ‘4 acai a a ste

been appropriately considered in the planning farably ina P 9 ke P RP 98

dn ae Soild (rego hone ENHANCE YOUR WEB COURSE
F ; i ‘ . ensive knowledge of organizational change, | ed i

cri cstumneden, __ aheueasiccecrgenorenct” DEVELOPMENT SKILLS!

* — knowledge of scientific equipment and core ogy aid abies ab inet da abbein iin eee Ge ‘ book at
facilities, * Proven at . challenging t! , nett — ees eer nora ae

* superior communication and organizational sieke STEN aDIlhy tO Manage sides ee = ; os

. rises tarétandina of cost-to-Henaht analvsiein This Administrative Professional Officer position

decision making 9 ¥ has a salary range of $56,453 - $89,381 along with a
* Anunderstanding of research activities in compres oe aot ackage. | : d

henith cerviene centoy Applications, including a curriculum vitae an =

me ‘ megs the names of three referees should be sent by March dad 25 le. “4

This is a project position for a term of three years. 16, 2001 to: ana over electives

Application deadline March 16, 2001. 7 oy ‘,

: i Mr. Nazim Merali oe : wre

Please reply in confidence stating salary expec- Chief Financial Officer and lo. ae oe
tations to: Aseaciate Vice-Presid discover teaching strategies. that will promote active learning

Dr. Lorne Tyrrell ssociate Vice-President Res Ss Ache aia ae ‘a . i

Dean Faculty of Medicine and Dentist STS of he Vie 7 testa — rape eles ny opment processr rn

312 WCM eee fh Sciences Cantie yy (Finance and Administration) «_ ¢ discuss copyright and intellectual property issues

Edmonton: Alberta 1-3 University Hall * attend panel discussions with other post-secondary educators

T6G 2R7 : University of Alberta et nes se

: Edmonton, Ab. *
Please note we wish to thank all applicants, Ce
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA but only those selected for an interview will be ae April 30 wd May 4,
PAYROLL COMPTROLLER 3 pee: , ; s

Applications are invited for the position of Pay- = Ror more enc whi aaa Salis Te
roll Comptroller reporting to the Chief Financial Of- NOTICE . www.atl.ualberta.ca/online
ficer and Associate Vice President. The incumbent In the February 23 edition of Folio, a position was : % Or call:

: apne 4 r call: (780) 492-2248
leads and provides strategic direction to a large de- advertised under the heading Organizational Effective- (7 ) ?
partment responsible for the university's payroll ness Manager. This position was posted prematurely
services and reporting functions. The PayrollComp- —_and is being withdrawn. Human Resources apologizes
troller has an ongoing role to improve and make for any inconvenience this may have caused.

®

Please send notices attention Folio 400 Athabasca Hall, University of Alberta, T6G 2E8 or e-mail
public.affairs@ualberta.ca. Notices should be received by 3 p.m. one week prior to publication.

LIVE-IN CAREGIVER STUDY MACTAGGART WRITING AWARD
Have you a hired a foreign-born live-in caregiver Faculty of Arts students are advised of an essay
in the past five years? writing competition to be held this spring. This com-
Changing Together. .. A Centre for Immigrant petition is to encourage students to gain an appre-
Women invites you to participate in a study about ciation of the joys of creative writing and travel. e »
the Live-In Caregiver Program. We would like to There are no prescribed topics for the essay. Prize
know more about the experiences of employers of value (up to $10,000.00) is dependent upon the
live-in caregivers, their views on the program and travel plans proposed by the winner.
their experiences with resident caregivers. For judging criteria and further information,
Call Dr. Denise L. Spitzer at 492-0139 to learn please contact the Faculty of Arts. The deadline is eS
more about the study and how you can take part. Friday April 27, 2001 at noon. Essays must be submit-
your participation will be kept completely confiden- ted to: Office of the Dean of Arts, 6-33 Humanities d E Ss : a a d Ss
tial. Funding for this project has been provided by Centre. Winners will be announced approximately
Status of Women Canada and Health Canada. mid-September. Wi: y a

FELLOWSHIPS SOUGHT

he University of Alberta has received __cipline or level of appointment) is eligi-

22 awards during the 15-year exist- ble. An exclusive three-day (Nov. 4 — 6,
ence of the national 3M Teaching Fel- 2001), all-expenses-paid retreat at the
lowships Program. In conjunction with | Chateau Montebello is the main com-
the start of the 2001 competition, Bente ponent of the award.
Roed, director, University Teaching Up to 10 awards are given annually.
Services, says, “we have many other Nomination forms are available at UTS,
outstanding instructors who want iden- 215 Central Academic Building, 492-
tification and nominations.” 2826. Dossiers are to reach the Society

The fellowships are awarded by the _ for Teaching and Learning in Higher

Society for Teaching and Learning in Education by May 11, 2001, but if a letter
Higher Education and 3M Canada Inc. from the Vice President (Academic) is
Any individual currently teaching at a required, the nomination package must
Canadian university (regardless of dis- | reach UTSby April 24, 2001.2

Display advertisements: :
Camera-ready artwork is required

to size, complete with halftones

ifnecessary. 8

(all 492-0444 for sizes, rates
and other particulars. | .

University of Alberta ae felio March 9, 2001

s* Uo lat ‘
ie i Yoda

a

Poin

counterpoint

By Richard Cairne

coach Mariek Chruscinski is

putting more than a dozen students
through warm-up drills in the Van Vliet
Centre fencing studio. Students pair up
and hold hands, twirling one another,
spinning through the studio like thunder-
ous dervishes. Next, it’s on to a sort of
two-man game of crack-the-whip, with
students flinging their partners ahead,
then being dragged from behind. Later
still, they are towed behind their partners,
frog-hopping the length of the studio.

“Everybody please—pulling and
jumping, pulling and jumping. Yes?”
Chruscinski says, his voice ringing
through the room. “Excellent. Excellent.”

The warm-up is exhaustive. Students
sit cross-legged, facing one another, play-
ing a game of Pat-a-Cake. “Fast as possi-
ble,” Chruscinski says, “Until someone
gets hit in the face. Yes.”

Eventually, he tells the students to
fetch their gear. “I can’t make too much
torture. You have to have fun, too.”

The students don masks and blades—
foils, epees and sabres to be precise—
and begin to practice a centuries-old
martial art.

Peter Jarvis, a planning technologist
in the university’s planning services office
is getting back into the sport for the first
time since his days as a high school stu-
dent in Fort St. John, B.C. back in 1964.

“It’s a beautiful sport. And it’s very
primitive. It’s fight or flight, but centuries
ago it was developed into a high art. The
kind of fencing you see here doesn’t make
for good movies. Over in the drama
department
they teach
them slash,
slash, slash,

so the whole
audience
can see you.”
The closest
most

U niversity of Alberta Fencing Club

people get to fencing is the swordplay
they see in films. “The new Star Wars
movie is the best sabre-fighting I’ve ever
seen,” says Fencing Club vice president
Mark Samuel.

Mark Samuel’s family involvement
with the club goes back
some time, too. The 26-
year-old education grad
is a three-time winner of
the club’s Wetterberg tro-
phy—which his uncle
won in 1973, and which
his grandfather won “in
the late 30s or early 40s.”

This is how small the
global fencing community
is: Samuel’s father, who was
also a club member during
the 1970s, was a friend of Bob
Anderson, the fencing coach
who choreographed light-sabre
fights in the original Star Wars.
Anderson also stood in for actor
David Prowse, as Darth Vader, in
fight scenes. (“When I met him, it
was kind of a disappointment because
I thought I was going to meet Darth
Vader, in a cape and everything,”

Samuel recalls.)

Samuel hasn’t been in films, but
he did upset “a bunch of guys with Uzis”
at an airport in Rome while checking his
weaponry through a metal detector. So
he has traveled as a fencer. He competed
in the under-17 age group in Italy after
placing third in Canada.

What is it about the sport that has
held Samuels’ attention all these years?

“It’s the coolest sport in the world,”
he declares. “It is always changing,
depending on who you are fencing with.
It has so many different qualities in train-
ing and technique in terms of moves and
footwork and how you use the blade.
And there is a whole level of strategies—
how you put it all together.”

A fencing match involves a lot of
tension that suddenly explodes in a flash
of strategy. It is, Samuel says, a very fast
chess game.

Back in the studio, Chruscinski is
teaching strategy. “Now if I do this, you

% come in here,” he says to a student. “But

Mark Samuel

. it’s a trick. But if you know it is a trick,
i you go there instead of here and
4 then?” he says, exposing himself
_ toa fatal blow. “There is a great
_ big fat opening for you.”s

The University of
Alberta Fencing Club is one
of the oldest on campus. Its
members meet every Tuesday
and Thursday night at 7:30

p.m. in the Van Vliet Centre.

Photos: Light F/X Photography